How to Block Stolen Phone MTN South Africa
Are you looking for information on how to block a stolen phone on MTN South Africa? If yes, then this article is for you. Device theft is a blight across the country. Each day, hundreds of people lose their phones and tablets. Getting your phone stolen can be real frustrating. In this article, we are going to show you the steps that you need to take in the event that your MTN phone has been stolen.
What to do in the event that your MTN phone has been stolen
The following are the steps that you need to take to block a stolen phone on MTN South Africa;
- First you need to call 183 from another MTN phone or 183 135 from another network. That’s the MTN Customer Services number.
- Tell them that your phone has been stolen and you wish to have the SIM block. Also ask them to blacklist your phone.
- Get an ITC number from the Customer Services agent.
- You will need to give then your phone’s IMEI to have it blocked. You can find the IMEI on the box in which you bought your phone. It’s always a good idea to keep your device’s IMEI written somewhere even before you have lost your phone. You can get the IMEI for any mobile device by dialing *#06#.
- Next, you will need to report that your phone has been stolen to the South African Police Services (SAPS). They will require your ITC number.
You should always insure your mobile devices
Many of the mobile devices that are out there are not cheap. In fact, for most people, a mobile device represents a considerable investment. We all spend years paying off our phones. It’s surprising, therefore, that only a few people ever bother to insure their phones.
With the way phones keep getting stolen in South Africa, it’s actually prudent to take out insurance on your device. That way, you will be covered in the event of loss or theft. The good news is that MTN offers insurance for mobile devices.
You can apply for insurance for your MTN device online, making everything convenient. That’s great news. And you won’t need to pay much to stay covered. So, this is a step that you need to take to protect yourself from loss.
Why Report Stolen Phone MTN
Most people who lose their mobile devices to thieves in South Africa do not bother to take steps to have them blocked. They don’t bother reporting stolen phones on MTN. The attitude is; meeeeh, phones get stolen every day. So, why bother reporting to the police or to MTN? Well, there are several reasons why it is prudent to block your stolen phone on MTN.
For one thing, our phones contain a lot of sensitive data about our lives. You probably have yours linked to your bank. You don’t want to have such information fall into the hands of thieves. Otherwise, they will have a party at your expense.
Reporting stolen phones also serves as a deterrent to thieves. If a phone is blocked, it means it will no longer be usable on any network. If more people were doing this, then the problem of thieves stealing phones would soon be a thing of the past.
Another reason for blocking a stolen SIM and phone is to stop the thieves from using up your data and airtime. That’s particularly pertinent if you are on a contract. You don’t want to have somebody make hundreds of calls at your expense.
What if I later recover my phone?
In the event that you have recovered your lost or stolen phone, which you had already blocked, the good news is that you can get it unblocked. To do so, call 083 135 to talk to Customer Care. You will be required to provide a copy of your ID, a written request to customercare@mtn.com.
Can MTN track stolen phones?
MTN does not have the mandate to track stolen phones. If you have been a victim of a violent crime, you need to immediately report to the police. They will then launch investigations that may include the tracking of your stolen device.
Summary
Anyway, that’s how to block a stolen phone on MTN in South Africa. It’s necessary to block your SIM to protect yourself. When your phone has been stolen, you need to get in touch with MTN customer services. They will immediately lock your SIM and you can then initiate the process of having your phone blocked so it will not be usable on any network.
Check out our article on how to do a Cell C SIM replacement. Also check out our article on how to RICA your SIM on Cell C.